Khalifa Port had its official launch at 12AM on 12/12/12.
RELATED ARTICLES: Khalifa Port orders more cranes | Container transfer ‘two months ahead’ | $7.2bn Khalifa Port launches operations
Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port was officially opened yesterday by Sheikh Khalifa. The new $7.5bn port’s target of 15 million container units a year in the next 20 years will place it alongside Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore as one of the biggest in the world.
It will handle all of Abu Dhabi’s container traffic once the container traffic transition from Mina Zayed is completed in early 2013. Khalifa Port has the first semi-automated container terminal in the region.
Craig Plumb, regional head of research at Jones Lang LaSalle, the global property services company pointed out that: “This will create a focal point for further development, whether it’s residential or commercial, to support the port.”
The projects are also integral pieces in a massive jigsaw of business and infrastructure developments as Abu Dhabi aims to realise its Economic Vision 2030.
Khalifa Port forms part of the developments which includes Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad). The first phase Area A of Kizad accounts for approximately 51 square kilometres.
It offers port facilities and direct port access for all companies setting up in Kizad and will together be a key enabler in driving the economic diversification of Abu Dhabi by creating more than 150,000 jobs and contributing 15% of the non-oil GDP by 2030.